The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-24
THE RED SCAR.

| speak. in the heart of ucatan | was
rather pleased than otherwise.
/ had been writing up the quaint old
ruins of that strange land for New
York paper, and had turned my facs
homeward, when l received II letter
| requesting me to wait at San Pablo
! for future instructions.
San Pablo interested me. 1t was a
| sleepy old Spanish village, with Il big
cathedral, Il plaza with the usual col
Aackgr0nnd of snow-capped moun=
tains rising boldly from "a landscape of
tOrrid summer heats.
1t was here that met with the most
puzzling experience of my life.
was returning from solitary ride
among the hills. The declining sun
! warned me that darkness would over
take me if did not make haste, but as
! ] could see IN the distance the massive
towers of the cathedral, | felt no I'M
easiness.
AT one place my lonely road or mule
path skirted deep raYine. which was
SO choked up with thick, scrubby I'M
derorowth that | was unable TO see
anything but Il tangled mass of foliage
and vines.
"A good place for an ambush" |
said to myself.
The idea impressed me so that I
spurred my mule, but, to my surprise,
the usually docile animal stood stock
still.
..Senorr'
The voice rang ont from the depths
of the ravine, but it seemed to be at
nay ear.
ssSenor. halt!'
obstinacv, the command was unneces-
sary.
..Stand asider' | shouted, land let
me pass.
Just then ! saw protruding out of the
bushes in front of me the muZZle of IN
old-fashiOned blunderbuss. Il ilint-lock
weapon in very general use in Yucatan.
A shudder ran down my spinal col
umn. l was unarned. and the blum
lerbuSS was about the size ot small
cannon. Resistance was not to be
thought of.
Il surrenderr cried to my unseen
foe.
The senior is sensible" said the
man with the big guV, as he leaped
into the road.
A rapid but close scrutiny of my
captor showed me young man Of
medium height, whose 1.-the, sinewy
figure indicated exceptional activity
and strength. He wore a homespun
cotton suit, and the face under his
sombrero had the brown tinge common
to all the Yucatanese who were of mix
ed Spanish and Indian blood. The
mans right temple was diSfigured by
peculiar scar, shaped like Il crescent
and of fiery red color. Beyond this
scar there was nothing remark able
about his face. He had regular feat
ures, thin, cruel lips and restless eyes
like beads of jet.
Il will hold up my hands and you
can go through me" said |, pleasant
". You don't want the mule, do
you?'
1.-The senior is wrong. do want
the mule," replied the robber, in a
quiet, Self-possessed tone. 1.-The senior
will have the kindness tO dismount
and hold up his hands"
As there was no use in wasting
words, obeyed without objection.
The robber with quick jerk drew
my hands behind me and pinioned
them with strip of rawhide. Then he
bound me securely to Il tree. After
finishing these preliminaries he empt-
led nay pockets of the loose silver in
them.
..Is that all. senor?'' he asked, in
deep disgust.
'sAil l have" | answered.
..The senior has nay sympathy, said
the rascal. with vicious grin, ''But
| the mule is something"
The robber turned my steed to the
right about and jumped into the saddle.
Let the senior be patient lie said
as he rode of. ''Some traveller will
| release him, and it is not far to San
Pablo. Give Francisco's compliments
to the alcalde Adios, senOP, adios.'
And waving his hand he disappeared
| AROUND bend in the road.
| So this was the noted highwayman,
! Francisco, for whose head the Cover
nor had offered heavy reward!
There was consolation i'll the thought.
| No one would blame Inc for surren-
| dering to a daredevil who was con-
! sidered a match Tor any three men in
! Yucatan.
But my train of thought was soon
| interrupted III pleasant manner
Francisco had been gone perhaps Il
| quarter of an hour when a muleteer
| made bis appearance leading his little
| burro along the narrow path. Hailing
the stranger, induced him to cut my
| bonds and release me- The luuleteer
told me that / escaped tightly he
| gave Francisco very black character
..If this place had not been in sight
| of San Pablo said he, 1.-The cut-throat
would have killed You.
The next morning the little town Of
| San Pablo was in a state of eruption
| Men. women ami children rushed pell-
| nell through the streets uttering wild
J wells l looked out of the window sew
| eral times, but could not make up my
! mind whether II was a revolution or a
holiday.
threw myself on the bed and tried
TO get into doze, and was succeeding
| when the alcalde rushed into my room
with bevy of his retainers and pulled
me into sitting posture.
| The senOr's commands have been
obeyed." said the alcalde. excitedly.
The dog of bandit has been arrest
ed. and will be tried before me at
eacs. But We need the senor's tssli-